It is a matter for Kerry County Council in the first instance to investigate and address coastal protection issues generally in the County and specifically any problems with the embankments in these particular locations. The Office of Public Works is not responsible for former Land Commission embankments and it is not the intention that it would take responsibility for them.
The OPW allocated funding of €180,000 to Kerry County Council under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme in 2012 for embankment strengthening works at Cromane and Incherea. This funding has now been drawn down by the Council.
OPW has written to City and County Managers in coastal counties indicating it will accept applications under its Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme for repairs to built flood defences and coastal protection structures which have been damaged by the recent storms. This is a once-off measure to reinstate built coastal defences to their pre storm condition. The specific application form for this is entitled Coastal Storm Flooding Damage Questionnaire 2014 and is available on OPW's website www.opw.ie under Flood Risk Management.
OPW funding is not available for repairs of other damaged infrastructure or facilities such as roads, promenades, boardwalks, piers, car parks, etc. Local authorities should apply separately to other relevant Government Departments and State Bodies in this regard.
